A model-independent confirmation of the $Z(4430)^-$ state

Abstract

The decay $B^0\to ψ(2S) K^+π^-$ is analyzed using $\rm 3~fb^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected with the LHCb detector. A model-independent description of the $ψ(2S) π$ mass spectrum is obtained, using as input the $Kπ$ mass spectrum and angular distribution derived directly from data, without requiring a theoretical description of resonance shapes or their interference. The hypothesis that the $ψ(2S)π$ mass spectrum can be described in terms of $Kπ$ reflections alone is rejected with more than 8$σ$ significance. This provides confirmation, in a model-independent way, of the need for an additional resonant component in the mass region of the $Z(4430)^-$ exotic state.

All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-038.html